Artesunate Inhibits Renal Ischemia Reperfusion-Stimulated Lung Inflammation in Rats by Activating HO-1 Pathway

Artesunate (AS), a semi-synthetic derivative of Artemisia, has been shown to exert a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. However, the protective functions of AS on renal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIR)-stimulated lung inflammation remain unclear. In this research, acute lung injury (ALI) was stimulated by renal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIR). AS (15 mg/kg) was intraperitoneal administrated to rat 1 h before RIR stimulation. Serum and pulmonary NO, MDA, IL-6, MIP-2, and PGE₂ levels, arterial blood gas and biochemistry, lung wet/dry weight ratio and MPO activity, total cell number and protein concentration in BALF, tissue histology, and NF-κB expression were determined. The results indicated that serum and pulmonary NO, MDA, IL-6, MIP-2, and PGE₂ levels, lung wet/dry weight ratio and MPO activity, total cell number, and protein concentration in BALF enhanced after RIR stimulation. These alterations were mitigated by AS. AS attenuated lung wet/dry weight ratio and MPO activity, total cell number, and protein concentration in BALF. AS attenuated RIR-stimulated pulmonary NF-κB phosphorylation. In addition, these previously mentioned actions of AS were antagonized by suppressing HO-1 pathway. However, RIR-stimulated arterial blood gas and biochemistry and lung histopathology were also attenuated by AS. In summary, AS inhibited RIR-stimulated lung inflammation by activating HO-1 pathway.